Activator for reserve-type electrochemical batteries



Feb. 26, 1963 F. cHloDlNl ETAL 3,079,047

ACTIVATOR FOR RESERVE -TYPE ELECTROCHEMICAL BATTERIES Filed Jan. 26.1960 Gas Compressed N FERNANDO cH/o//v/ CHAR/ Es M. G0L o INVENTORSAGENT United States Patent O 3,079,047 AC'HVATOR FR RESERVE-TYPE ELECR-CHEMlCAL BATTERlES Fernando Chiodini, Franklin Square, and Charles ltd.

Gold, Brooklyn, NX., assignors to Yardney Interittipnal Corp., New York,N.Y., a corporation of New Filed Jan. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 4,688 8 Claims.(Cl. 222-32) The present invention relates to a device for activatingelectrochemical batteries of the deferred-action or reserve type whereinone or more dry-charged cells are supplied with electrolyte liquor inresponse to a predetermined signal.

Various systems have been proposed heretofore wherein a frangiblediaphragm, originally blocking the passage of electrolyte from itsstorage container to the battery, is pierced or shattered in response tothe activating signal so that the liquor can flow through the breach. Inorder to reduce the activation delay to a minimum, it is desirable toplace the liquor under suilcient pressure to make its irruption into thebattery substantially instantaneous. Such pressure, however, should comeinto existence only at or immediately prior ot the time of intendedactivation so as not to cause premature rupture of the diaphragm.

-In one prior system, disclosed in pending application Ser. No. 416,468filed March 16, 1954, now Patent No. 3,018,314, by Emanuel Cooper andCharles M. Gold, the activating signal releases a charge of compressedgas which then acts kupon the electrolyte and through it upon thediaphragm, urging the latter into contact with a stationary puncturingdevice. This system performs satisfactorily with certain types offlexible diaphragms, especially plastic membranes having an inwardlyfacing bulge which reverses its curvature in response to pressure fromthe electrolyte, but is not readily adaptable for use with, for example,a metallic diaphragm designed to be ruptured by a pivoting cutter asdisclosed in copending application Ser. No. 4,806 filed on even dateherewith by Charles M. Gold, one of the present joint inventors.

ln another simultaneously iiled application, by Leon Kardori and theaforesaid Charles M. Gold, there is disclosed an activator systemutilizing a pivoted cutter for the rupturing of a metallic diaphragm asdescribed above, In that system the detonation of an explosive chargeserves to actuate the cutter and, after a short delay designed to enablean incipient rupture of the diaphragm before the onset of electrolytepressure, causes the release of a compressed gas into a duct leading toa piston (eg. an inflatable bladder) which acts upon the liquor topromote its discharge through the rupture.

it is an object of the present invention to adapt a system of thisgeneral type for use with a mechanical activator replacing the explosivecharge.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved safety devicedesigned to prevent premature activation of such system.

In accordance with this invention there is provided, in a batteryactivator having a cutter movably positioned adjacent a diaphragmblocking the outow of an electrolytic liquor from a reservoir, andfurther having piston means such as an inatable bladder for exertingpressure upon the liquor in the reservoir, a spring-loaded operatingmember and retractable stop means engaged by this member to prevent itsdisplacement toward the cutter in a diaphragm-piercing sense, theoperating member being linked via a delay device with a gas-releasingelement associated with a source of compressed gas which, upon beingliberated, acts upon ythe aforementioned piston means to force theliquor-out of the reservoir,past'the ruptured diaphragm, and thence intothe cell or cells of a dry-charged battery to be activated.

The stop means, in accordance with a more particular feature of theinvention, may include two independently withdrawable `elements of whichone is a safety stop to be removed when the activator is to be armed,i.e. readied for operation; the other of these elements is an `end of anelongated rod or cable, hereinafter referred to as a lanyard, adapted tobe pulled out from a remote location. Preferably, the stop means actsupon the operating member not directly but through the intermediary of atransmission device stepping up the applied holding force, such as alever.

The invention will be described in greater details with reference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view, `partly in section, of an activatorlembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on line I-I--II of FG. l; and

FIG. -3 is a perspective view of a detail.

The drawing shows a cylindrical reservoir lil` containing a liquidelectrolyte, such as a concentrated aqueous solution of potassiumhydroxide, for the cell or cells of a dry-charged electric battery (notshown) whose housing can be reached through a tube 11, extending from achamber 12. This chamber is positioned externally of reservoir 1t),adjacent an outlet 13 thereof which is originally blocked by a metallicdiaphragm 14, e.g. a disk of stainless steel a fraction of a millimeterthick. A bell-crank lever 15, having an operating arm 15a and agenerally triangular cutting arm 15b terminating in a knife point 15C,is swingable about a pivot pin 36 within chamber 12. Arm 15a isbifurcated `and straddles the neck 16a of an yoperating member l16having ythe form of a plunger axially slidable in a cylinder 17; ashoulder 1Gb on that plunger -is under pressure from a helical spring 18within cylinder 17, tending to drive the member 16 upwardly into aposition (illustrated in dot-dash lines in FIG. l) in which cutter 15swings about its fulcrum 16 to pierce the diaphragm 1d. lSuch movementis, however, initially prevented by a latch lever 19 which is swingableabout a pin Ztl' in a lateral extension 17a of cylinder 17; rotation oflatch lever 19V into its own dot-dash position, to liberate the plunger16, is in `turn yblocked by a stop rod 21 and a lanyard wire 22 whichengage the longer arm of the lever and are independently removable fromthe mounting 17a. The latch lever 19 thus serves as a transmissionelement for magnifying the holding force of stop rod 21 and lanyard wire22.

The reservoir 10 is further provided, opposite its outlet 13, with aninlet occupied by an innata-ble bladder 23 floating within theelectrolyte; a shield 24?-, in the form of' a perforated cap curvingytoward the bladder, prevents contact between `the latter and the cutterpoint 151.` and/or the jagged edge of the ruptured diaphragm when `thelever 15 is rotated into its dot-dash position. Bladder 23 communicateswith a gas duct 25 which opens into a chamber 26 atop the cylinder 17,'this chamber being provided with an aperture 26a which leads to theinterior of the cylinder and is traversed by the upper end 16e ofplunger 16. A cartridge 27, containing a compressed gas, has an outletnozzle 28 terminating in a closed nipple 29 which is located in the pathof ythe plunger top 16e; it should be noted that the distance betweenthis top and the nipple 29 is greater than lthe path of plunger motionrequired to initiate the attack of cutter 15 upon diaphragm 14.

The proximal end of lanyard 22 is clamped, under pressure of springs 30,between two platelets 31, 32. which are relatively movable on mountingbolts 33 carrying these springs. The bolts 33, threadedly received incylinder extension 17a, are adjustable to vary the clamping pressureacting upon lanyard 22, thereby determining the force necessary -to pullthe lanyard from its moorings.

In operation, the activator is first armed by the withdrawal of stop rod21 which to this end is provided with a ring 21.11. If re-insertion ofthis safety stop prior to activation should become necessary, the leveri9 may be slightly raised yout of its mounting, `against the force ofspring iS, with the aid of a suitable tool inserted into a hold 19athereof; the same technique may be used in the initial assembly of thedevice. It, after the withdrawal of rod 2i, the lanyard 22 is pulledout, lever 19 rotates counter-clockwise (as viewed in FG. i) so that it,the plunger and the cutter 15 are moved by the spring 18 into theposition illustrated in dot-dash lines. When this occurs, and after thecutting point Sc has begun to penetrate the diaphragm i4, the top 15s otplunger 15 breaks oit the nipple 29 Vto release the gas from cartridge27, this gas thereupon streaming through chamber 26 and duct intobladder 23. Plunger 16 therefore serves as an operating member which iscoupled with said cutter means 15 and also, via a lost motionconnection, with nipple 29 of the compressed gas cartridge 27. Thelatter connection is a lost motion connection since the top of theplunger i6 must traverse the distance shown in dotted line before iteffectively engages nipple 29. As the bladder becomes inated, it exertspressure upon the electrolyte Within reservoir t0 and forces it Ithroughthe wideni ing breach in diaphragm 14 (which by this action is furtherenlarged) and chamber 12 into the tube il leading -to the battery to beactivated.

Various modifications of the system described and illustrated arepossible and intended to be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

`l. An activator for a dry-charged battery, comprising a reservoircontaining a qumtity tot liquid electrolyte for said battery, normallyinoperative pressure means adapted to act upon said electrolyte, saidreservoir having an outlet leading to said battery, a diaphragmextending across said outlet and blocking the passage of saidelectrolyte therethrough, cutter means for rupturing said diaphragm, anoperating member coupled with said cutter means and adapted toconsecutively operate said cutter means and activate said pressure meanswith said pressure means, spring means urging said operating member intosuccessive actuation of said cutter means and said pressure means, andremovable stop means holding said operating member inoperative againstthe force of said spring means.

2. An activator according to claim l wherein said stop means includes astop-rod and a lanyard Wire independently removable from engagement withsaid operating member.

3. An activator' according to claim l wherein said stop means includes alanyard wire provided with adjustable clamping means for varying thetorce necessary for its removal.

4. An activator according to claim 1 wherein said pressure meanscomprises an inflatable bladder in said reservoir and a source ofcompressed gas for initiating said bladder, said source being providedwith a nipple blocking the discharge of said gas into said bladder andadapted to be broken oit by said operating member, upon a movement ofthe latter suicient to initiate the rupture of said diaphragm by saidcutter means.

5. An activator for a dry-charged battery, comprising a reservoircontaining a quantity of liquid electrolyte for said battery, normallyinoperative pressure means adapted to act upon said electrolyte, saidreservoir having an outlet leading to said battery, a diaphragmextending across said outlet and blocking the passage of saidelectrolyte therethrough, cutter means for rupturing said diaphragm, anoperating member coupled with said cutter means and adapted toconsecutively operate said cutter means and activate said pressure meanswith said pressure means, spring means urging said operating member intosuccessive actuation of said cutter means and said pressure means, latchmeans bearing upon said operating member, and stop means engaging saidlatch means tor holding said operating member inoperative against thetorce of said spring means.

6. An activator according to claim 5 wherein said latch means comprisesa transmission element adapted to magnity the holding force of said stopmeans.

7. An activator according to claim 6 wherein said transmission elementis a lever having a shorter arm in contact with said operating memberand a longer arm engaged by said stop means.

8. An activator according to claim 7 wherein said stop means comprises astop element and a lanyard wire bearing alongside each other.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,594,879 Davis Apr. 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS l,l26,430 France Nov. 22,1956

1. AN ACTIVATOR FOR A DRY-CHARGED BATTERY, COMPRISING A RESERVOIRCONTAINING A QUANTITY OF LIQUID ELECTROLYTE FOR SAID BATTERY, NORMALLYINOPERATIVE PRESSURE MEANS ADAPTED TO ACT UPON SAID ELECTROLYTE, SAIDRESERVOIR HAVING AN OUTLET LEADING TO SAID BATTERY, A DIAPHRAGMEXTENDING ACROSS SAID OUTLET AND BLOCKING THE PASSAGE OF SAIDELECTROLYTE THERETHROUGH, CUTTER MEANS FOR RUPTURING SAID DIAPHRAGM, ANOPERATING MEMBER COUPLED WITH SAID CUTTER MEANS AND ADAPTED TOCONSECUTIVELY OPERATE SAID CUTTER MEANS AND ACTIVATE SAID PRESSURE MEANSWITH SAID PRESSURE MEANS, SPRING MEANS URGING SAID OPERATING MEMBER INTOSUCCESSIVE ACTUATION OF SAID CUTTER MEANS AND SAID PRESSURE MEANS, ANDREMOVABLE STOP MEANS HOLDING SAID OPERATING MEMBER INOPERATIVE AGAINSTTHE FORCE OF SAID SPRING MEANS.